Possible neurological disorder????

[morteduzionism]

Symptoms: sometimes I...get a weakeness in my hand...preventing me from being able to write...the weakeness feels exactly like either: a) i hit my funny bone or b) the weakeness you get if you were laughing really really hard...

It only seems to effect writing(at least that's when it mainly happens)...I can't remember a time when it happened and it prevented me from doing anything else...for example...I'm typing right now with no problems...but I can't write legibly...it looks like...scribble...I can't seem to control the pencil right...

I was also able to do 20 reps with a hand-grip thing-a-ma-bob so I have strength...but as soon as I try to write...

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

[The Fish]

Internet diagnosis is rarely a smart idea, but I'll try to determine if I think you should see a doctor in person.
Some preliminary questions:
1) How old are you?
2) What race and sex are you?
3) When did this hand weakness start/how low has it been going on? How often do the episodes occur?
4) Does it happen in one hand? Both hands? Does it ever affect any other parts of your body?
5) In addition to the weakness, do you also get a pins and needles feeling?
6) Does the feeling radiate from your hand or remain localized?
7) Does anything specific you do make it better or worse (e.g. turning your head or hand at a certain angle, tasks in addition to writing)?
8) How severe is the weakness? During the episodes of weakness, are you able to do simple things like make a fist, or hold a piece of paper between your index and third fingers?
9) Does it occur more often at a certain part of the day?
10) Do you have any other neurological symptoms like blurry vision or dizziness?

[morteduzionism]

Internet diagnosis is rarely a smart idea, but I'll try to determine if I think you should see a doctor in person.

true...and thanks for the response

Some preliminary questions:
1) How old are you?

mid 30's

2) What race and sex are you?

human...sike...black male

3) When did this hand weakness start/how low has it been going on? How often do the episodes occur?

Don't remember when it first happened. Don't remember how long it's happened but I've noticed it before. It actually doesn't happen that often

4) Does it happen in one hand? Both hands? Does it ever affect any other parts of your body?

Only one hand. Never in any other part of the body.

5) In addition to the weakness, do you also get a pins and needles feeling?

No.

6) Does the feeling radiate from your hand or remain localized?

I wouldn't call it a "feeling". It's(literally) like I'm laughing. Although I'm not laughing at the time if/when I try to grip a (I've never noticed it other than when writing) pen/pencil I just can't do it...my hand simply won't...write...

7) Does anything specific you do make it better or worse (e.g. turning your head or hand at a certain angle, tasks in addition to writing)?

Although I've never tried "turning my head" or anything else...by the way I can write now the-problem-went away(as usual)...I sort of doubt that would help...It is exactly like the feeling you get when you hit your funny bone-like you sort of want to laugh but you don't and your hand gets...numb(for lack of a better word)

8) How severe is the weakness? During the episodes of weakness, are you able to do simple things like make a fist, or hold a piece of paper between your index and third fingers?

hmmm, holding a piece of paper sounds like it might be difficult but...I did do the 20 hand grip excercises, type the OP, use the phone...other than writing I've never noticed it happening or preventing any other physical activity

9) Does it occur more often at a certain part of the day?

It happens so rarely I wouldn't know if there was a pattern

10) Do you have any other neurological symptoms like blurry vision or dizziness?

lol...i was going to say, 'Only when I've been drinking'...lol...but to answer the question: No. No other signs of any other problems/symptoms.

So what do you think? Am I dying? I personally think it's psychological. Right before the incident......I almost got caught looking at TWC by: my boss, her boss(VP of company) and at least 4 other employees. Although, I can't remember what preceded the other incidents it seems like...maybe...it's nerves or something

[The Fish]

A psychological cause of these symptoms is possible, but not particularly likely. I think you should see a doctor about this and go through a physical exam; the episodic nature of the symptoms, and the fact that you have problems with fine control of the hand, tend to point towards a nerve/neurological problem. It may be a benign condition, or a repetitive stress-type injury to the nerve. There is also a chance (though I wouldn't get too worried about this just yet) that it could be symptomatic of a more serious condition like multiple sclerosis, though, given the lack of other neurological symptoms, we shouldn't jump on this.

So, especially if you notice the episodes changing (i.e. becoming more frequent, lasting longer, affecting other parts of the body, or if you get any other neurological symptoms), get it checked out.

[morteduzionism]

Thank you.

[Gaius Baltar]

Sounds like Carpal Tunnel syndrome. Just from the brief description of your sysmptom(?)s().

[The Fish]

Sounds like Carpal Tunnel syndrome. Just from the brief description of your sysmptom(?)s().

It's a possibility, but the lack of pain or parasthesia (pins and needles feeling) is unusual for carpal tunnel syndrome. This is why there needs to be a full exam of the hand. At this point, I'm thinking it's probably a benign condition, but you can never be too sure. It would be best to get it checked.